Collating device



March 9 1926.

1,575,893 H. v. AsHBY COLLATING DEVI CE Filed July z2, 1924 s sheets-sheet 1 March 9 1926. 1,575,893

H. v. AsHBY COLLATING DEVICE Filed July 22, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 9 1926.

H. V. ASHBY COLLATING DEVICE Filed July 22, 1924 s sheets-snaai s Elli-IIE?! l W mw "ll-Ill Patented Mar. 9, 1926.

*UNIT-ED STATES BEST AVAILABLE COPY 1,575,893 PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY V. ASHBY, -oFERIEg PENNSYLVANIA,.AssIGNoRoE ONE-HALF To EDWARD B.

. TASHBY. 0F NEWvvYoRKyNY. Y. p

co'LLA'rING To' all 'whom it may concern: 'y

Be it known that I, HARRY V. Asunv, a citizen of the United States, residing at -Erie`, county of Erie, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful'Improvements in Collating Devices, of 'which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to sheet feeding machines and more particularly to collating machines for associating sheets in groups of two or more. l

Heretofore machines of this type `have been quit-e complicated and expensive.. The

principal aim of the invention'is to provide an exceedingly simple, fool-proof machine,

and one which rarely if ever fails to feed the sheets properly. I

Another aim of the invention is to provide a machine of this type .that can bel sold at a yprice low enough so that the small printer, can afford to buy it, and yet not sacrifice in any way. the etiiciency of the machine, for the sake of a low sale price.

Other objects and features of novelty will be apparent from the'description taken in connection with the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of the machine; Fi 2 and 3 are fragmentary side views,

. showing the combined sheet lifter and conve'vor in two different positions;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section on the line 4-4 of Figure 5;

Fig. is a eross section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;.

Fig. 6 is a detail view, showing a horizontal section through the sheet lifter arm;

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation illustrating particularly the cam mechanism forA operating the sheet lifter and conveyor;

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the parts shown iu Figure 7, certain parts being in section;

Figs. 9 and 1.0 are vertical sections through the suction and blast nozzles of the combined sheet lifter and conveyor;

Fig. 11 is a detail view of the valve for breaking the suction and the operating means therefor;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary side view showing a modification of the mechanism foll raising and lowering the combined sheet lifter and conveyor;

Fig. 1? is a horizontal section on the line 12E- 13 of Figure 12.

f -v `Application filed J1y`22', 1924.l :Serial No. 727,516.'

In the form of they invention illustrated,

the 'fr'ame of the machine 'comprises two spaced side members each including uprights 10 and upper and lower longitudinal members 11 land 12, respectively. Journaled at each end of the frame is a horizontal tape roller 13, over which pass a num'-A berof endless tapes 14,l ten' of such tapes being shown. Supported by the longitudinal members 12 near the forward end of the'fframe `is an electric motor 15 which drives la';coimte'rs'li'aft A16 through a silent. chain drive' 17. *A pulley on shaft 16 is connected-to a' pulley on the shaft of rear rollerA 13"by.a "belt 18 for voperating the mpeg: 14,.. l i y "Uecured to theV upper horizontal members 11 of thefraine-are a yplurality of longitu dinally spaced tables 19 which extend entirely 'across from one longitudinal member to the other above the upper runs of tapes 14 (Figure 11). '.Each table has secured to the forward edge thereof a plurality of sheet: guides 20. LEach 'of these tables supports a pile of sheets..1 A sheet from the various piles is simultaneouly taken from the top of all of the piles'and delivered onto the tapes which discharge the sheets in groups. One of vthe novel features of the present. invention resides in the means for positivelyv separating the top sheetfrom the pile and dcpftsiting it o'n'the tapes.' For this purpose a conibined sheet feeder and conveyor is eniployed. This feeder is permitted to fall onto the Itop of the pile and piclisup the top sheet and then the feeder together with the sheet vtravels to a point where the sheet may l'te delivered onto the tapes.

For the purpose of causing the feeder to travel horizontally there is secure-:l to each lfmgitudinal member 11 a pair of guides 21, each pair supporting anti-frictionally a re.- ciprocating bar Vwhich has a depending arm 23 extending through a slot formed in the adjacent member 11. The ends of arms 2? are connected b v links to the upper ends of levers 2G fulcrumed at their lower ends at 27 on the longitudinal members 12 and connected at an intermediate point of each by a cross rod 28. Pivoted to rod 28 centrallfy7 thereof is a link 29 (see Figure 7) which has' a. longitudinal slot 3() through which a cam shaft 31 extends being mount in beaings 2 secure to the longitudina nuernberg lglgaglhisjsliatlia'siseiired thereon adjacent the link 29 an open faced i 31 passing over a small sprocket rorrjshajt eser avait/iets cosi/i gitudinal member 12 of the frame. Lever QN PTF Mir* fsfx' rx ,M In t. r o'cirries at ,intermediate p onit a flaterally'preting roller 55 which cooperates withacam 56 secured to shaft 3l. A spring LiL'F-hesheettlifters 39 are similar to those described in my copending application, Ser.

16 and over a larger sprocket 35 onis'haftr'lilE649QQG4, filed July 6, 1923. Each coin- (Figure 1). A spring.[36 ntends, to: move. levers 26 to the right as viewed inFig'ure "1." .-Rigslnsecured,teieeh barf22ere piurality.,oI-Everticahguides 37,- ,the guides of one of i-itheefparsi-beng- :directly ,opposite or' in .transversealignment ivith, the guides ori-,the other aim;eEaeetrenSvetSdy-aliged.

' if@ pairiot ghi eoiihectedifbyiemss, ,redt

.liMountedf--qri upferid; dqvn. reeipreeen tion...infeaCh-Par ofi. trnsverselylelgned' guides 37 4is a SheetlerS. selledef @che end; to arhead 310e e Jeurriieled .011. .the uter. facci-.efaeaelnheaei-Arare two verticallyminimali-rollers@ which axorki 1.1.1116 JeePee-- tiwisifles whereby the Sheet-.litten 'e110 autffribenally;guided-ferry and; donnie?. vertiealtreeiproeationi @Rigi ,Unsecured-140 each head 40 is a depending arm 42 pvliieliJ has :mounted-@netheoiiterf fasithefeei-ist belowhead 4.0.ra.ro11erf43ithiseveral. .IQllerS beingdaptedjtofroll o n.-ithe upper surface o the longitudinal; .members 11. As ,clearly "j shown'jin Figure 6, the; tables 19 have their forward corne-rs fout, away and the -'inner marginsof' the longitudinal ,members-1 1 are also notched' at these pointspyfgorining apertures' througlrwliich the rollers 43 are adapted to'fpass when the sheet litters ,approach thelimit ,oftheinmovement towards said tables, therebyf permitting said sheet ,litters to drop -on tovthe sheet piles carried byltlie| tables for= .th e' purpose of picking-up ,the top sheet.v .For elevating the liftersafter they have dropped-on to said piles the following mechanism is provided: Journaled in brackcts depending from the upper 'longitudinal members 11 are transverse shafts 44, one for each sheet lifter, which extend between the upper and lower runs of belts 14 under the respective tables 19. Y Rigidly secured to each shaft 44 adjacent each end thereof is an arm 45 which carries at its free end a roller 46 which is adapted to engage a face formed on the 'lower end ofthe respective arm 42. Rigid with one of the arms 45 of each shaft 44, is a depending arm 47 and pivotedon shaft 44 adjacent arm 47 is an arm 48 which is adapted to engage a lateral abutment, or flange, 49 on the depending. arm 47. The ends of arms. 48am-engaged in brackets 50 secured to a longitudinal rod .l'which is mountedv for longitudinal reciprocation in guides 52 attached tto tlie inner faces ofnprights 10. The'rod 51 is reciprocated by inefaieoitailrei liefits rpfqe eesasaiswisfvkfieip t t t prises apllofngitudiiial'bar having two interior conduits' communicating respectively with blast and suction means and provided-with blast andfsuction nozzles communicating ,re-f spectively with said conduits.- f Referring particularly to Figure 5, 10 and 11, the sheetlift lr ','shpwn comprises an Aelongated mein- '9.1 orined with two interior superpo'sdlongi'tudinal conduits 5 7 and 5S. The upper 'coi'id'uit' 57 isconnected by flexible hose 5.9:toafliorizontal overhanging pipe 60 which communicates 'with a verticatpipe 61 l'hojecting'from a longitudinal iipe 62 leading touthe exhaust of a'vac'num' p nmp.. 63. l`l1'e-lo'w4 condnit'58fof eachV lifteris lconriegtedzzby,ailegiblehosef; upper end o 'yfertlcahpipe (ii'tli'elower end of which isucjonknee. gid-Eto, a longitudinal pipe 66 leading to the 'intake of thevaeuum pump G3. interposed in each vertical pipe-65 isa sleeve Yalife ('seleEigure l11) comprising a rotary sleei-'e`67proided' with'a slot 68 which is adapted to register with a slot in pipe (35. The sleeves l G7-have lateral arms 67 which arel connected by a rod 69 slidably mounted ii'rguidesfYO secured to the longitudinal member ofthe frame. A spring 7l sccuredto v. the.- rear end of rod- 69 and to a pin` 7 l, vonfgniember 11 tends to hold the sleevev valves closed. An inwardly. projecting pin 72.0 11 rod 69 is adaptedto be engaged by the depending arm of bai' 22 when the sheet litters approach the limit ot their nioven'ient away from the sheet piles and are in position to deposit the sheets carried thereby on to the'continuousl moving tapes 14 whereby the valves are opened, breaking theVaCuuin and permitting' the sheets to drop.

T lie lower or suction conduits ofi the sheet liftei's communicate with a number of regularly spaced suction nozzles 7 5.) which all open in thesame horizontal plane (Figui-vs 9 and 10). Combined with each ot' the suction nozzles is a blast nozzle 74 or T5. As will be observed from Figures 9 and 10, the blast nozzles 75 are directed to deliver blasts downwardly on the vmarginal edges of the sheets .at the top of the pile and so operate to force down and away from the top sheet. any sheets which may adhere thereto. Nozzles 74 are directed to deliver blasts against'. tht.. edges of ,the sheets atthe top of the pile and thereby force air betweeirthehtop slileet,J and nextt sheet,to .held the top 'slieet separated 'from the @liegt-,T iyaipe gilt'mth suction nozzles (8 have associate( t ierewith sii with blast nozzlesot the form .designated by 752 'l'ffh'e `,iuran'gement fsthei-no'zzl'es may@ be taried :as desired-butin :is rpreferable Pto coni-z bin'e' theE form ofi blast nozzle I designated bv. 7 fl! A'w'vith 'atiV least two 1 ot/the fcentr'alf suction-l nozzles asfwelll ias `rWit-li: some of: tl'i'e'r'outerr suction ."nozzles; I .In i other-'gi avonds; nof fitted arrangement tof! these' lnozzlesisi .'shown Cor laim'ecl'l hereinfffafsthe: .iariangement--l will be varied Vas con'ditions'frequi'e: et he iiozzles may be Vequip'ped-"with" i cocltsfe tor 'cutting` out any 'f one for m'orefA ther'eot, asi moreg `fully described rin; my copendingapplication. um.

ongend nozzles 'aief' provided L'Withi these cocks 73a so that it-sheetsoff'a lividth-narroiv'rlthar the entire Width fof tlre'fee'der afe being c"ol lated; fthe 'nozzles that -are #not'inecessaryf'tor action'onfthesheetmiayfbeshutothf lo F f The machine, as describedabove;I is {ada-pti edj ftoj collate ".or p associate @sheets (in l setsfc bt tivo, :but of 'course f the f1 machine f2 be equipped twithf any desired 'mun'iberf of' rsheet tables alnd associated vsheet li'ftingan'd 'coni \fy'l11f f. .1. I, f @Each tabl "l1olds'a tpilefo slieetsgth'elisheets comprised inl a. pile 'beingidentical` E'but the sheets inl the several piles' being diterentas to thccharacte'r of the: printedI tnothery matter 4:the`reo1i," the f function e Jof.l the mach-ine being to associate tlie`sheetsIin1setsfeach fof whiclvconsists of? one:isheetafromleach pile. Let it'be assumed thatrthe sheet litters have' deposited4 theirE fsheets -o`n the tapesflltfand are f moving back'ftvvardsf th-ef -sheet Spiles.' The. shaft 31 is continuously Hrotating inv a Clockwise directidn,l looking dat HFigure 1 7; From the Ishape otthecamsifand lit will be noted that"l the cam ivicauses 'the lever 26 to l bewmovedf` to "gth'e' limitot :its ri ght hand stroke: just Jmafore` ,the .roller 55 rides ofi' the highgpartfof: camandihat the l*cam 38 isso -forined 'th'atthe-.\lever 2G will then dwell ivhile "the shaft` 531 is'rotating througln anfangle-iot aboutI-12().f1'f Vhen lever 26 is thus broughti-tb theright hand limit ot' itsA stroke', the rollers 43 supporting the sheetlit'ters drop through the-notches at the innermargins of vmembers 11 andthe llower ends of arms 42 come'into engagement with, and rest on,arms=45 so thatfthe sheet litters are supported vby said iarmsf tThe roller lthereupon.passes from' the high to the low part of cam 56, permitting spring 57 to'more lever '53,A bar5'1 and arm 48 to 'the i--i -ht,'v looking atfFigures-land 7` thereby permitting larms 45 'to' drop under-the weight of the sheet litters, the rollers 43 `passing` through lthe apertures, one of which .is shown in 'Figure 6, and the-sheet litters dropping onto their respective' sheetpiles. `The suctlon nozzles 73 now rest squarely on the forward edge of the top sheet While the BEST AvAxLAsLE comj y.es

, arms 45 raises the: sheetilit't'ers trom ythelsheet pilegfthe, fsuction4 and. blasti nozzles function# 75 ing gin-.fthe manner heretofore pointed-out to c'ause fthetmp sheetto be sepaiiated: from the pile of sheets and adhere 1.o the suction nozzles'f/ 'Vhen' th'efsheet'- littersy have thus ybeen 33 passes from engagement."ivithuroller. 3l andthe lever 126 fis moved;rapidlyE to the lett cfausingf the sheet liteisto travel away trom the: sheet f 1 piles 1 and iover z the continuously moving tapesilll. Yhentlielitters approach 35 tlieflim-itfoii their :movement in .this direction. theedepentlin'g'narm i Q3 "of 'bar .22 gstrikes pin 72foit rodsi69=eausirigthe sleevevalves-GT 'to penshndfbreakfathe v'acuum ot'` thesuction nozzlesetlnis releasingithcsheets an'dv-perf 90 mitting'f them to .fall ont the r tapes. .Attentioir visv called .'to thezifact th at? a ir liin'der? p res# shreds supplied?. to the blastoiozzles .continuvously, so that the Vlibia-sts delivered 'bj-'f :these nozzles-when fthe-'suction is brokenA positively 95 assistsgravty iin-releasing .the sheets from their Suction I:nozzles It A t will. be; observed rom'tliefshape of camffthat the sheet litt ingand (conveying. 'devices will: have -ashort dwell A when "at thei :limit vof their; movement away from the sheet-'piles thusi'giving sutficient i time 1 td -ftiillyi rclease the sheets and letltthem".A fall v-ron l.the .continuously moving tapesfbfore :the said devices begin theirretuin '.stiokes; Atterv this dwell the shape of the canrs'suclrasto move the devices quiclily.bacl{ to t-heirrespectix-'e' sheet piles. The velocityo'fthe tapes 14 is so timed'with refierence' 'to theoperation-ot the sheet lifting aiid'conveying devices that all the sheets depositedzon the tapes-at a -sinjrle operation ot' said''devices f\vill;'be',inoved past .the la t devicey in 4the'ldirectionfofv movement ot the upper 5 runs. .fof i saidtapes :before another set of.t sheets vis,"depo`sited on said.' tapes. .The sheets are deliveredby lthe tapes into a suitablefrecep `acle=76 at the'torward end ot' the 1nachine..."f"A .fi -e-,Figures '12'. sandflf shou" a moditied con'- struction `of 1' the; means tfor lifting andi controlling the sheetlittingv and conveying' d0- -vicesuza He'ezithe srollers 143C ln'hich aie mounted onzidownivardly `extendingl arn'is frigidrfivithft-he sheet litter heads 4() operate on; pivotedit'racks i7 7 The tree ends ot these tracks have depending,r heads 78 adapted to .fbefeng-agedfbyfrollers 4G, which `are operated -asdes'cribed*above -It will be understood from' 5 the above'l 'description .that when .the

slieetfrli'fter.andconveying-devices approach lo the limit .of their movement. towards the sheet piles, the tracks 77 -areperm'itted'yto sition until t-he sheet lifters again approach the limit of their movement towards the sheet piles. This is eliected by the operation of cam 56 and the train of mechanism, previously described, between this cam =and arms Having thus described Ithe invention what is claimed as new and desire-d to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A eollating machine including in combination, a iframe, a transverse horizontal roller journalled in said frame adjacent each end thereof, endless tapes passing around said rollers, means for rotating one of Said rollers, a pluralityof longitudinally spaced tables-mounted on said frame slightly above the upper runs of said tapes, eachl adapted to hold a pile f sheets, and a singlemeans associated Withfe'ach pileof sheets. for'lifting sheets singly therefrom and depositing them simultaneously on said tapes at `longitudinally separated points thereof, the-ve* l locity of said tapes being so timed with respect to the operation of said means that all sheet-s simultaneously deposited A'on said tapes will be 4moved past the last: said means in the direc-'tion of movement of the upper runs of said tapes before a 'second set of sheets is deposited thereon l 2. A collating machine including in combination, an elongated frame, means moving longitudinally of said frame for conveying sheets to a common point, a plurality of longitudinally spaced tables mounted on said frame slightly above said sheet conveying means, each adaptedI to hold a pile of sheets, and a single means associated with each pile of sheets for lifting sheets singly therefrom and depositing them simultaneously on said conveying means at longitudinally separated points thereof, the velocity ot' said sheet conveying means being so timed with respect to said lifting and depositing means that all sheets simultaneously deposited on said conveying means will have moved past the last lifting and depositing means in the direction of movement of the conveying means before a second set of sheets is deposited.

3. A collating machine including in combination, a frame, means moving longitudinally of said frame for conveying sheets to a common point, a plurality of longitudinally spaced tables mounted on said frame slightly above said conveying means,"each adapted'to hold 'a pile of sheet'sgand a' sucftion' -device, associated With-'each-pilelo'f .sheets ,ffor littilngi sheets@ singly 1 tlie'rcitnein and `depositing them simultaneously on said. conveying means lat longitudinally spaced points thereof.

4. Aicollating machine including in combination, aframe, a transverse horizontal roller journaled in said frame adjacent each end thereof, endless tapes passing around said rollers, means fo rotating one of said rollers, a plurality of longitudinally spaced tables mounted on said frame slightly above the 'upper runs of said tapes, each adapted to hold a pile of sheets, a suction device' associated With each pile of sheets, and means for operating said suction devices to cause them to lift-sheets singly from their associated piles and convey and simultaneously deposit said sheets ontosaid tapes at longitudinally spaced points thereof.

5. --A -collating machine including in combination, a frame,- means for supporting a pile. of sheets at each of a pl 'irality of positions on" said frame, sheet conveyingl means adapted to convey sheets to a common point, a suction device associated With each pile of sheets,- and means for operating' said suction devices to cause them to lift sheets singly from their respect-ive piles and. convey and simultaneously deposit said sheets on said conveying means', said conveying means operating at such speed that all sheets simultaneously deposited thereon are cenivcyed to the common point before the next 'set of sheets is deposited. 6. A collating machine including in combination, a frame, means for supporting a plurality-of piles of sheets at longitudinally spaced positions on said frame, a set of endless tapes common to all of said piles, a suction device associated With each pile, and means for operating said suction devices to cause them to lift sheets singly from their respective piles and convey and simultaneously deposit said sheets ou said tapes at longitudinally spaced points thereof. said tapes operating at such speed that all sheets simultaneously deposited thereon are conveyed to a comm-on point betere the next set of sheets is deposited. l

7. A collating machine including in combination, a frame, means for supporting a pile of sheets at each of a plurality of positions on said frame, sheet conveying means adapted to convey sheets to a common point, a sheet lifting and depositing device associated with each pile of sheets each device comprising a plurality of combined suction and blast nozzles, and means for operating said devices to cause them to separate and lift sheets singly from their respective piles and con- 'vey and simultaneously deposit said sheets eii'said conveying means, said operating ineanfs including 'means to break the vacuuni in saidr vacuum nozzlesivhen said 'devices apro'ach theirfsheet depositing positions; the ihlastinfmzlesecqntim31 iig; tg rlc'ln'zeiudilasts lattea ,which positively.' ,disengage the sheetsV from erating means tor said bar to move the nozzles over the toi-ward edge ot the pile and then down on the sheet pile, so that the suc.- tion nozzles rest on the torward margin ot the top sheet while the blast nozzles open close to the edges ot the top sheets, said operating means then causing the nozzles to rise and nieve away from said pile to a distant point, and means to break the suction in said suction nozzles when the sheet approaches said point, the blast nozzles continuing` to deliver blasts which positively disengage the sheet trom the suction nozzles.

In a sheet feeding machine in combination, means to support a pile ot sheets, a device to take the sheets trom said pile and deliver same to a distant point comprising a plurality ot combined suction and blast nozzles, said suction nozzles opening vertically downward and said blast nozzles opening in trent ot and below said suction nozzles at an angle to the vertical, suction and exhaust means connected to said suction and blast nozzles respectively, means tor moving said device downward to bring the suction nozzles into contactwith the forward margin ot the top sheet and the blast nozzles in proximity to the edges ot the upper sheets and tor then moving said device upward and horizontally to a distant point, and means tor breaking the suction in said suction nozzles when the sheet approaches said point, the blast nozzles continuing to deliver blasts which positively disengage the sheet trom the suction nozzle.

l0. In a sheet teeding machine in combination, means to support a pile ot sheets, a device to take sheets singly trom said pile and deliver them to a distant point. said device comprising a plurality ot combined suc tion and blast nozzles, suction and exhaust means connected to said suction and blast nozzles respectively, means' to move the device to and trom the sheet pile, and means to break the suction in said suction nozzles when approaching the limit ot movement away trom the sheet pile, the blast nozzles continuing to deliver blasts which positively disengage the sheet trom the suction nozzle.

11. In a sheet teeding machine in combina- BEST AVAlLABLE COPY tion, means to support ai pile `ot sheets, a Adevice lto take sheets singlyl tromsaidpile Vand vdeliver them away trom said pile, said device comprising -acombinedsuction and blast nozzle, suction yand exhaust means conneeted to said combined nozzle, means to move-the device tol and trom the sheet pile, and means to` break the suctionin-the suc- 4,tj/ion nozzle when, approaching the limit ot .the moven'ient'away vtrom the pile, the blast nozzle continuing :to deliver a blast which .positively disengages theslieet trom the sucl.tion nozzle. l. y l

12. A coll-ating machine including in combination a trame, a transverse horizontal roller journaled in said trame adjacent each end thereot, endless tapes passing around said rollers, means tor rotating one ot said rollers, a plurality ot longitudinally spaced tables mounted on said trame slightly above the upper runs ot said tapes, each adapted to hold a pile ot sheets, a guide associated with each table, a sheet litting device vertically reciprocable in said guide, means tov reciprocate said guides towards and trom their associated tables, said means causing the guides to dwell when reaching the limitsv ot their movements towards the tables, and means tor lowering and raising said devices during` said4 dwell.

13. A collating machine including in combination a trame, a transverse horizontal roller journaled in said trame adjacent each end thereot, endless tapes passing around said rollers, means tor rotating` one ot said rollers, means to support a plurality ot piles ot sheet-s at longitudinally spaced points above the upper runs ot said tapes, a guide associated with each pile ot sheets, a suction sheet litter mounted tor up and down movement in each guide, rollers supporting the litters on the trahie, cagn means tor reciproeatingr said guides to and trom their respective sheet piles causing substantial dwells at the limits ot the movements, movable members adapted to support the sheet litters when the latter are at. the limits ot their movements towards the Sheet piles, cam means to move said members down and then up to lower and then raise the litters during the dwell ot the guides, and means to break the suction in said litters when approaching the limit. ot their movement away troni the piles.

' 14. In a sheet teeding machine in conibination, means to supporta pile ot sheets, a guide, a sheet litter mounted tor up and down movement in said guide, said litter comprising a combined suction and blast nozzle, suction and blast means, flexible hose connecting said means with said nozzles, cam means tor reciprocating said guide to and trom the pile causing substantial dwells at the limits ot the movement, a movable member adapted to support said litter when lUO E:at the limit of its-inoeinent toivardsy the spaced pile tables, "i'series of "tapes traveling under said tables,` av eombined sheetlit'terandconveyor for each. pile, means to essi* Avait/me Coef 4lower said lifter into Contact with the top sheet of the associated pile to pick up a sheet, and then raise said litters, means to reciprocate said litters horizontally to carry the sheets to a position over the tapes and then return the litters, and means to cause the lifters to take the top sheet of each pile when in Contact therewith and release the sheets when in said position over the tapes.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

imm-:Y V. asiiiiY. 

